If you’ve ever observed a captive panda going about its daily routine, you might have questioned how these awkward creatures managed to survive in the wild. Extant animals have evolved skills and traits essential for their survival. However, “survival skills”…
Gazing up at the night sky to witness the hazy arc of the Milky Way is one of the most quietly profound experiences an individual can have. That arc is actually a side view of the galactic disk, densely packed…
Everyone grows up knowing the difference between herbivore, carnivore, and to a lesser extent, omnivore animals. This is particularly true if you were fascinated by dinosaurs at an early age, where distinguishing between carnivores and herbivores is a key part…
If you’ve ever forgotten something soon after learning it, you might have been told you have the “memory of a goldfish” — most likely not meant as a compliment. This idiomatic insult relies on the widespread belief that goldfish have…
Leopards and jaguars are two of the most visually striking big cats on Earth. In fact, they’re so striking in such similar ways that they’re often confused for each other. Both have golden coats covered in black rosettes, both are…
Floating 250 miles above the Earth, astronauts aboard the International Space Station are not just orbiting; they’re gardening. In an environment with no up or down, no soil beneath their feet, and space’s vacuum pressing in from all sides, these…
Koalas are easily recognizable symbols of Australian wildlife, yet they have also become symbols of endangerment in this era of climate crisis. According to The IUCN Red List, koalas are categorized as a vulnerable species. However, their status hasn’t been…
If you spend a day hiking in the woodlands, you’ll likely spend your night picking spiky round balls from your clothing. These sticky, prickly little nuisances are called burs (sometimes spelled “burrs”), and they’re actually seed pods, akin to seed…